Lent Week 2 - HOLY

SATURDAY, March 2  
I shouldn't try to finish my "HOLY week" all at once, but suddenly all these other ideas came out this morning!!  
"Holy Gift"  (ODB)
Ephesians 2:8 (CEB)
You are saved by God’s grace because of your faith. This salvation is God’s gift.
God has given us a free gift of grace.  What gift could be more holy than grace?  Do we treat grace as a holy gift?  Do we revere it?  Do we live a life as if it matters?  
"Holy Love"   (JKauth)
In comments Jim made earlier this week, he reminded me that I couldn't finish out a HOLY week without Holy Love.  Love, wrapped up in the holy, becomes a life-changing love.  Holy love can move mountains, mend broken hearts and relationships.  Holy love becomes God-love.  
"Holy Glory"  (WwG)
Psalm 19:14  (GNT)
May my words and my thoughts be acceptable to you,
    O Lord, my refuge and my redeemer!
In Walk with God, author Tiegreen writes of Psalm 19 "In such a glorious creation that proclaims God's goodness from the rising of the sun to its setting, David knows how tragic it would be not to fit in."  Today Rick and I walked among a new part of God's creation - the saguaro cactus forest.  The words Holy Glory echoed in my mind as I reflected on the wondrous way the saguaro was created to survive in this world.  How intricately God has planned all of creation to exist.  How wrong it is when we neglect to honor as holy the absolute glory of God's creation.  And that creation includes ourselves!  Do we reflect holy glory to others?  Are our speech, our actions, our very beings a shout-out to the glory of God?  


FRIDAY, March 1  "Holy Expectation" (ODB)
Hebrews 11:33-34  (The Message)
Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. 

When God is your partner, you can make your plans large!  (ODB)

If we expect great things from God, we will attempt great things.  Faith makes us far stronger than we realize.  This passage from Hebrews recounts one Biblical 'hero' after another who performed astounding deeds because of their faith.  Holy Expectation allows us (forces us?) to consider the 'God Factor' in each new situation we approach.   Alone? Impossible!  With God?  Expect the best! As Rick and I begin new volunteer experiences in the weeks ahead, may we be filled with Holy Expectation to the power of God working through us.  May we approach each day with that hopeful expectation in mind, with the faithful assurance that God will see us through!  Plan big!!  

THURSDAY, February 28  “Holy Walk”   (WwG)

Proverbs 14:2

“An honest life shows respect for God,

     A degenerate life is a slap in his face.”  (MSG)

“He whose walk is upright, fears the Lord,

     But he whose ways are devious, despises him.”  (NIV)

It’s my life, my body!

Do my own thing.

If it doesn’t hurt anyone, it’s fine.

Nobody’s business but my own!

Is this how we live?

Independent, self-assured, arrogant?

Is this how we proclaim our faith?

Inwardly and silent,

While proclaiming with our life something very different?

To take a holy walk,

To live a life of faith,

Means an outward display,

Twenty-four seven,

Three sixty five.

May I walk holy, live holy,

Every second, every day,

And thereby proclaim my Lord. 

WEDNESDAY, February 27  “Holy Mud!”

1 Peter 3:15 (The Message)

“Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, non of it will stick.  They’ll end up realizing they’re the ones who need a bath!”

     I couldn’t help skipping ahead two verses in 1 Peter to use this imagery.  The ONE YEAR WALK WITH GOD  focuses on verse 13 and making Christ Lord of ALL in our lives.  In so doing, where God affects every decision, every corner of our lives (and we all try to maintain self control over some hidden corner!) – we should have a clear conscience.  Let people say what they will, God is behind us and in us!  Throw the mud!  It won’t stick! 

     Have I given God ALL my life?  He can manage it much better than I!  Why do we fight so hard against God in this?  

TUESDAY, February 26  "Holy Wisdom"
Proverbs 4:7-9 (The Message)
Sell everything and buy Wisdom! Forage for Understanding!
Above all and before all, do this: Get Wisdom!
    Write this at the top of your list: Get Understanding!
Throw your arms around her—believe me, you won’t regret it;
    never let her go—she’ll make your life glorious.
A world of smart people.
Geniuses, scientific wonders. 
Famous, wealthy, on the news with new discoveries.  
But wise people?
Truly wise?
In short supply.  
Wisdom knows God. 
Wisdom knows our world and God in it. 
Wisdom knows our place in God's world. 
Wisdom is relationship. 
Learn God, see what God is doing,
Be in relationship with God. 
That's Holy Wisdom,
Not brain smarts.  
Fill life with the holy, not worldly,
And life will have meaning and purpose.  

Excitement!  We are "On the Road Again!" today, departing for points South!  The roads could be a bit icy and COLD until we get into southern Nevada.  I ask for God's traveling mercies on us....and that we don't freeze tonight in Winnemucca's 15 degree forecast!    May the trip add to my wisdom....of God at work in our world and in me!  Shalom friends! 

MONDAY, February 25  "Holy Trust"
Based on Genesis 22:1-18 (Sacrifice of Isaac) and a d365.org story (Valerie Burton):
     Once I saw a pastor, in front of a large audience, invite a teenager to the stage. He asked, would she fall backwards and trust that he would keep her from falling? Blindfolded, the teen was reluctant, but then she did it. The pastor gently caught the teen and stood her back up. Then he asked her to do it again but this time, the blind teenager heard the pastor’s voice coming from in front of her. Could she fall backwards and trust him to not let her fall?

     The audience had the benefit of seeing that another strong looking person had quietly stepped in behind her.

     We say we trust God.  All you have to do is look around and see God at work.  But when the answer is something we don't expect or we don't understand how it could possibly work, are we willing to fall backwards and KNOW God will be there?  Are we able to tie up our child on the altar and prepare to kill him in obedience and trust in God's wisdom as Abraham?  That is supreme trust.  Often God works in ways we can't imagine (there's that word again!).  Then it becomes a matter of 'holy trust':  Trust that God has the situation covered.  If we are in daily relationship with God, we build the kind of faith that allows HOLY TRUST to exist.  The teen above didn't know the pastor, she had just one example of his strength. To fall the second time would be hard until more of a relationship was formed.  
     How well am I working on my relationship with God, so I will be ready and willing to fall back during difficult times into God's loving arms? 

SUNDAY, February 24  "Holy Imagination"
Genesis 15:5-6 (The Message)

Then he took him outside and said, “Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You’re going to have a big family, Abram!”   And he believed! Believed God! God declared him “Set-Right-with-God.”

Imagine. 
Just imagine for a moment. 
The possibilities, the opportunities, 
The incredible consequences
Of a relationship with God. 
Of knowing and serving 
God Almighty - personally!
Look to the heavens and count the stars!
Impossible!  But no!
Use our holy imagination,
Beyond our wildest dreams
And realize what we can be
With God at work inside us.  
It's staggering. Overwhelming. 
Inspiring and very humbling.   
Allow God to stir within
The power of holy imagination. 
What can be that we can't yet see?
Through God, in God, with God.  

(d365.org, RCL)

Addendum:  God at work.  I had finished writing and was preparing to draw the scribble when Rick got up and came out to turn on the Christian radio we always listen to while he does his exercises.  The first words I heard being sung?  "Only imagine, just only imagine, what the world could be.....only imagine!"  Perhaps this IS the message I am suppose to hear today!!  

As Rick and I prepare to embark on another adventure, I am going to stray from d365.org at times in the next few months, somewhat because internet may become an issue, and also for a fresh slant/outlook/format?  I am taking with me three resources: Our Daily Bread, a book of daily devotions published by rbc ministries,  The One Year Walk with God Devotional  written by Chris Tiegreen and published by Tyndale House, and The Revised Common Lectionary.   (References will be given as d365, ODB, WwG, or RCL)  

Daily publication of this blog may not happen, nor will a scribble always accompany the post.  Come, travel with us, and see what God has in store!  It's an adventure of great imagination!